Sunday, August 14, 2005

Congressional Pay Raises No Tough Sell

The Roll Call Report Syndicate reported that, under the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate are guaranteed annual increases in their salaries, without debate or up-or-down votes. “The [Ethics Reform Act] pegs increases to the Labor Department’s Employment Cost Index, and makes them automatic the next January unless both chambers vote in advance to prevent them.” Obviously, debate or votes on pay raises are few and far between.